F1: Ascanelli Out At Toro Rosso

Formula 1

F1: Ascanelli Out At Toro Rosso

Scuderia Toro Rosso technical director Giorgio Ascanelli has vacated his post...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted September 05, 2012 Balen (BEL)

Giorgio Ascanelli's run as Toro Rosso technical director is over. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Scuderia Toro Rosso has finally confirmed the departure of erstwhile technical director Giorgio Ascanelli, who has been ‘on holiday’ for some weeks.

The team says that the former McLaren and Ferrari man has resigned his post.

Ascanelli said in a STR statement: “I've enjoyed the past years working at Scuderia Toro Rosso. It has been a very intense and interesting time, in which we had to manage the transition from a small team to a much larger one, and everybody has put a lot of effort to bring us where we are today. We have sown the seeds for a successful future, and I think the team challenge is now to gain a stable presence in the upper mid-field, and I wish all at Toro Rosso the very best for the future.”

Team boss Franz Tost said: “Over a period of almost five years, Giorgio has contributed positively to the development of our team. Especially in the difficult transition period from a simple racing team to a fully-fledged constructor, he made an important contribution and his undoubted experience was very valuable to us. We would like to thank him for his efforts and wish him all the best for the future.”

Adam Cooper notched up his 27th season as a racing journalist in 2011. He has written about F1 for SPEED.com since 2005. Follow him on Twitter.